2015 Cosplay "HELP Me..." thread

[SquishyK]

Hi. so im trying to add some battle damage to a mask(like giving it a whole scratched up battle scars type of thing) but im not sure how to do that. i dont wanna carve up my mask( dont think that would work anyways) but have no clue how to paint on battle scars. any advice?

This is really a "go look around youtube" type of issue. There are lots of tutorials up there from some very talented people on how to paint things to look battle damaged. Here is a good place to start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb6CXGortrQ when he starts painting the armor you can see how layering colors and rubbing it with a rag when parts are still wet can create some pretty cool looks. But that's just one method. There are lots of options out there depending on your budget/skill level and the look you are going for.

[SquishyK]

Ugh having more problems with this cheap poop wig....Yeah my fault for not finding a nicer one cause my dad would get mad if I spent more.
So I thought I could fix it with either colored tissues under the wig or like others suggested, a light colored cap.

NOPE! It is even worse because the the cap lines whatever that holds the wig are yellow! Its ugly! My hair is white but its cap is an ugly yellow! Then again I am dying it a pale lavender color but the yellow lines are so gross. Maybe the color will change with the dye? I am dying it but more like spritzing it around here and there.

What do now? Maybe I should stop being so picky and go with it, have fun...It is my first time I am cosplaying at a con.

Willing to take notes and suggestions though.

Dying things can be tricky/messy. The one time I have well and truly hated a costume is when I tried to dye something. I have friends that would rather spray a wig with some of that temporary hair color rather then try dying it. If you are none too pleased with the wig to begin with and you really want to try dying something then by all means, have fun with it! Better to try out dying a wig that you aren't fond of to begin with then trying it for the first time down the road and "ruining" a perfectly good wig. Who knows, you just might like the way it looks better with the dye. Just be really careful what you get dye on and I highly suggest looking up WIG dying tutorials (there are some different wig specific methods). And the most important advise I can give you is YES "GO WITH IT, HAVE FUN" I almost feel like a less then stellar first wig is a right of passage. It's a learning experience (every costume is) just relax and have fun with it!

[Nina Star 9]

LOL It's ok pits are cool, yo! And I'm still new to cosplaying. It's just fun but sometimes I can be a perfectionist...Sometimes. And even thought my costume isn't a good quality at all (I try to work with what is cheapest.), my main problem was my armpits getting all pooped with the body paint. Bleh!!! I doubt I'll want any pictures taken but if so then I will probably not lift my arms! So you are right. XD

I have that cheap body/face paint cream from Party City btw. I have used it before for a lame Homestuck cosplay 2 Halloweens ago. It was messsssy! Well, I got a little bit smeared on my shirt and pants. (Then again I applied it in the girls bathroom in a hurry wow)
I mean, I don't know what else to work with most of the time and I am usually trying to find the cheapest stuff, also that is available in stores near me. And since I feel like I wont be using it much, more like twice or once a year. (Halloween and a Convention) I feel like maybe I shouldn't care much but my brain is coming up with thoughts and they are unpleasant!!!

Also, I have hairy arms and I have this thing where I just can't shave them. Not sure how those other paints will do if I won't shave my arms.  :-[

I might just have to carry cleaning wipes and extra paint with me if I can't do anything else or at least afford to. I'm truly ruined! XD

Thank you so much for your help and your tips! I am most likely to keep those suggestion for another future cosplay (when I get a part time job and save money at least!).
I really appreciate it! :3

Never use the cheap face paint from Party City. You /will/ regret it. Either tube stuff or tub stuff, it's going to be awful for anything but the smallest and most temporary applications. As I said, I'd recommend not using creme paint at all for your arms, since it will smear, no matter how sealed. It's around $6~8 for a small pot of Kryolan that will last you for a long time. I've done my face, arms, and stomach with only about 1/4~1/3 of a small pot.

As for shaving, my arms aren't super hairy, but my legs are, so I did a test with some Kryolan Aquacolor. Here's the result. I took that with flash, since I only have overhead lighting in my room and couldn't get it without shadows (though I can upload the non-flash photos if you want). As you can see, you can still use the paint. This was just one or two thin layers. It'll clump in the hair a little bit, and make the hair stand out, but it mostly just stays on the skin itself. I wouldn't worry too much about the hair if you are doing a water-based paint. (You'd need to shave it for PAX though)

If you are resolved to not lift your arms anyway, what about armsocks? They'd look weird in your armpit if you lifted your arms, but if you don't do that, they should look fine, and they'll save a lot of time the day of in painting yourself, and will save you the problem of possibly getting paint on your shirt.


As for your wig issue, once you dye it, it might neutralize the yellow in the wig cap enough that it won't be as noticeable. Or the wig cap might take more or less dye than the rest, or it will dye some strange, off color you didn't want. But if the wig is toast anyway, it's worth a shot.

[Bolli]

Never use the cheap face paint from Party City. You /will/ regret it. Either tube stuff or tub stuff, it's going to be awful for anything but the smallest and most temporary applications. As I said, I'd recommend not using creme paint at all for your arms, since it will smear, no matter how sealed. It's around $6~8 for a small pot of Kryolan that will last you for a long time. I've done my face, arms, and stomach with only about 1/4~1/3 of a small pot.

As for shaving, my arms aren't super hairy, but my legs are, so I did a test with some Kryolan Aquacolor. Here's the result. I took that with flash, since I only have overhead lighting in my room and couldn't get it without shadows (though I can upload the non-flash photos if you want). As you can see, you can still use the paint. This was just one or two thin layers. It'll clump in the hair a little bit, and make the hair stand out, but it mostly just stays on the skin itself. I wouldn't worry too much about the hair if you are doing a water-based paint. (You'd need to shave it for PAX though)

If you are resolved to not lift your arms anyway, what about armsocks? They'd look weird in your armpit if you lifted your arms, but if you don't do that, they should look fine, and they'll save a lot of time the day of in painting yourself, and will save you the problem of possibly getting paint on your shirt.


As for your wig issue, once you dye it, it might neutralize the yellow in the wig cap enough that it won't be as noticeable. Or the wig cap might take more or less dye than the rest, or it will dye some strange, off color you didn't want. But if the wig is toast anyway, it's worth a shot.

Yeah I have used the paint from Party City and I had to deal with the mess on my clothes! The only pros is that it was cheap, nearby store, and I could mix the colors to get what I want.

And I would get nicer body paint but sadly I don't think it will even arrive on time for me to even test try it once I buy it! D:

Also, questions, if I want to get a light pinkish lavender color but I can't really find any of that specific color...Is it possible to mix colors with Kryolan? And would it be grease makeup, the normal supracolor, or maybe even the aquacolor water activated foundation? How does it feel? Can I use a soft brush to apply or just use a sponge?

Armsocks are a pain in the butt because what if they don't match the color I want or have on? And If I were to make a pair it would require time and experience.

Thank you! ^^

[Nina Star 9]

Yeah I have used the paint from Party City and I had to deal with the mess on my clothes! The only pros is that it was cheap, nearby store, and I could mix the colors to get what I want.

And I would get nicer body paint but sadly I don't think it will even arrive on time for me to even test try it once I buy it! D:

Also, questions, if I want to get a light pinkish lavender color but I can't really find any of that specific color...Is it possible to mix colors with Kryolan? And would it be grease makeup, the normal supracolor, or maybe even the aquacolor water activated foundation? How does it feel? Can I use a soft brush to apply or just use a sponge?

Armsocks are a pain in the butt because what if they don't match the color I want or have on? And If I were to make a pair it would require time and experience.

Thank you! ^^

Do you have any dance or theatrical supply shops in your area? Or magic shops? That's where I used to get all my body paint before I moved to a city close to a Kryolan store (there's one in SF, if that's accessible to you at all).

You can mix Aquacolor, but it's a bit of a pain. You have to break up the cakes, add water, make sure all the little bits of product get dissolved in the water, mix your colors, pour them into a container, and wait for it to dry. This may take a while, though. Here's a tutorial on how to mix water-based paints.

Based on what you've said so far, I'm assuming you are cosplaying Amethyst? 482 looks like a pretty good color, though I don't have any with my in person to look at.

As for the type, Surapcolor = grease/creme paint; Aquacolor = water paint.

For application, I use a large round sponge and stipple the paint on in multiple thin layers. Check out this tutorial. Some people swear by brushes for water-based paint, and those work well for detail work in my experience, but I've never tried them on larger areas, so I can't personally attest to which techniques or types of brushes you should use. The detail work I did ended up being pretty smooth, so if you have a soft, smooth brush, you shouldn't have any streaks unless your brush is too wet or you push too hard.

It feels slightly dry on your skin. If you have dry skin already, use a moisture mask the night before, moisturize the day of, and make sure your face is clean and non-greasy before application. It won't terribly dry out your skin, but it might feel a little crusty or tight on your face. Also, make sure to exfoliate to get rid of any patchiness. The paint itself dries to a chalky finish. After a while, I hardly notice that it's on, though it does feel a little different from just regular heavy makeup on my face. It shouldn't flake or crack or crease if you applied it correctly and have good quality paint. It feels a lot better than cheap grease paint from Party City, that's for sure!

[SquishyK]

Yeah I have used the paint from Party City and I had to deal with the mess on my clothes! The only pros is that it was cheap, nearby store, and I could mix the colors to get what I want.

And I would get nicer body paint but sadly I don't think it will even arrive on time for me to even test try it once I buy it! D:

Also, questions, if I want to get a light pinkish lavender color but I can't really find any of that specific color...Is it possible to mix colors with Kryolan? And would it be grease makeup, the normal supracolor, or maybe even the aquacolor water activated foundation? How does it feel? Can I use a soft brush to apply or just use a sponge?

Armsocks are a pain in the butt because what if they don't match the color I want or have on? And If I were to make a pair it would require time and experience.

Thank you! ^^

I only have real experience with aquacolor. I'm pretty sure mixing it would not work but I never tried. You can probably mix grease makeup or supracolor (which I think is grease based?). The problem is I don't think it seals as well so you would need to be careful around clothes (again, only used aquacolor so no personal experience). Aquacolor washes out of most clothes if it does get on them, although not always perfectly. I use a "kabuki" brush (e.l.f. brand, available at target) to apply my water based paint. I apply 3+ light coats waiting for the paint to dry in-between coats. Then I spray a sealer. Usually 2 coast of the sealer, you want good coverage with the sealer but you don't want it over saturated on you or it will drip and create steaks in you nice layers of paint. It feels... probably like you would expect. It's dry when it's on you and almost like you've coated yourself with a nice THIN layer of mud and let it dry (not at all cakie or crackling though). YOU SHOULD SPOT TEST FIRST, to make sure you don't have a reaction to it. If your from San Jose I can suggest a couple stores that offer this and other good quality costume makeup.

[Bolli]

Yeah I have used the paint from Party City and I had to deal with the mess on my clothes! The only pros is that it was cheap, nearby store, and I could mix the colors to get what I want.

And I would get nicer body paint but sadly I don't think it will even arrive on time for me to even test try it once I buy it! D:

Also, questions, if I want to get a light pinkish lavender color but I can't really find any of that specific color...Is it possible to mix colors with Kryolan? And would it be grease makeup, the normal supracolor, or maybe even the aquacolor water activated foundation? How does it feel? Can I use a soft brush to apply or just use a sponge?

Armsocks are a pain in the butt because what if they don't match the color I want or have on? And If I were to make a pair it would require time and experience.

Thank you! ^^

I only have real experience with aquacolor. I'm pretty sure mixing it would not work but I never tried. You can probably mix grease makeup or supracolor (which I think is grease based?). The problem is I don't think it seals as well so you would need to be careful around clothes (again, only used aquacolor so no personal experience). Aquacolor washes out of most clothes if it does get on them, although not always perfectly. I use a "kabuki" brush (e.l.f. brand, available at target) to apply my water based paint. I apply 3+ light coats waiting for the paint to dry in-between coats. Then I spray a sealer. Usually 2 coast of the sealer, you want good coverage with the sealer but you don't want it over saturated on you or it will drip and create steaks in you nice layers of paint. It feels... probably like you would expect. It's dry when it's on you and almost like you've coated yourself with a nice THIN layer of mud and let it dry (not at all cakie or crackling though). YOU SHOULD SPOT TEST FIRST, to make sure you don't have a reaction to it. If your from San Jose I can suggest a couple stores that offer this and other good quality costume makeup.

Omg yes please! Tell me where! I do live in SJ! ^.^

[SquishyK]

Yeah I have used the paint from Party City and I had to deal with the mess on my clothes! The only pros is that it was cheap, nearby store, and I could mix the colors to get what I want.

And I would get nicer body paint but sadly I don't think it will even arrive on time for me to even test try it once I buy it! D:

Also, questions, if I want to get a light pinkish lavender color but I can't really find any of that specific color...Is it possible to mix colors with Kryolan? And would it be grease makeup, the normal supracolor, or maybe even the aquacolor water activated foundation? How does it feel? Can I use a soft brush to apply or just use a sponge?

Armsocks are a pain in the butt because what if they don't match the color I want or have on? And If I were to make a pair it would require time and experience.

Thank you! ^^

I only have real experience with aquacolor. I'm pretty sure mixing it would not work but I never tried. You can probably mix grease makeup or supracolor (which I think is grease based?). The problem is I don't think it seals as well so you would need to be careful around clothes (again, only used aquacolor so no personal experience). Aquacolor washes out of most clothes if it does get on them, although not always perfectly. I use a "kabuki" brush (e.l.f. brand, available at target) to apply my water based paint. I apply 3+ light coats waiting for the paint to dry in-between coats. Then I spray a sealer. Usually 2 coast of the sealer, you want good coverage with the sealer but you don't want it over saturated on you or it will drip and create steaks in you nice layers of paint. It feels... probably like you would expect. It's dry when it's on you and almost like you've coated yourself with a nice THIN layer of mud and let it dry (not at all cakie or crackling though). YOU SHOULD SPOT TEST FIRST, to make sure you don't have a reaction to it. If your from San Jose I can suggest a couple stores that offer this and other good quality costume makeup.

Omg yes please! Tell me where! I do live in SJ! ^.^

Natasha's Attic located at 1238 S Bascom Ave has a fantastic selection. They also have a very knowledgeable guy for makeup on staff (I don't remember his name though) that can answer many of the questions you might have. At least they did the last time I was there about 10 months ago or so. And you would also be supporting a local business. The other place I know carries it is the large Diddams party store in Mountain View on W El Camino Real. There is also Debbie Lyn's Costumes which I think is still (or again) on Wolfe Rd in Sunnyvale but they have changed locations twice and have kinda weird hours if I remember correctly so I would call first to verify location/hours (http://dlcostumes.com/index.html).

[SquishyK]

Also looks as though Fun House Theatrical on E. Fremont Ave. Sunnyvale has Kryolan according to their website (http://funhousetheatricalcostumes.com) though I have never been there so can't say much more then that.

[SquishyK]

One more thing about the Mountain view Diddams, I know there is someone who works there that is experience in working with body paint so you can ask for Kate if they are working that day. They don't really work in the makeup department but all the people who do work in the makeup department are also pretty knowledgeable if Kate does not happen to be working at that time.

[Bolli]

Ahhh do you think any of those stores would sell some nice wigs there or not?

I just ruined my wig because I am a failure LOL. So I can either buy another online but I got like 8 days left till I go to Fanime or just sob in my now blue poopy wig. Or I could check a store nearby and hope for something. ; u ;

[Bolli]

Ahhh I totally didn't see this post! My bad! D: And now the body paint problem is being solved...And yes Amethyst! ^^ That color looks pretty good! I only fear that it will look too dark on my skin but oh well! I hope the stores I'm going at have that color. ; u ;

Hmmm my body in general is pretty dry but I'll make sure to start wearing moisturizer in advance. My face gets pretty oily & dry so I'll have to see what I can get for my face but that's something else. I feel like I might apply the paint incorrectly because I am a noob. XD

[OtakuAngel87]

Ahhh do you think any of those stores would sell some nice wigs there or not?

I just ruined my wig because I am a failure LOL. So I can either buy another online but I got like 8 days left till I go to Fanime or just sob in my now blue poopy wig. Or I could check a store nearby and hope for something. ; u ;

Not sure if you have amazon prime but if you do, you could probably order a nice wig from there and get it in time for fanime w/ 2day shipping

[SquishyK]

Ahhh do you think any of those stores would sell some nice wigs there or not?

I just ruined my wig because I am a failure LOL. So I can either buy another online but I got like 8 days left till I go to Fanime or just sob in my now blue poopy wig. Or I could check a store nearby and hope for something. ; u ;

I think all of them probably have some wigs. However, I've generally found that wigs available online are much cheeper. You can find a decent quality wig for $15 online if you look around enough and are really careful but the ones in most costume stores of any decent quality will run you more like $25 to $35 or more if it's specialty or particularly long. If you are looking for a specific color of makeup and a specific brand you can always call the store to find out if they cary it. Save yourself a trip if they don't. (also I recall the Diddams does have a really good selection of wigs but more limited selection of makeup then some of the  others)

[Bolli]

Ahhh do you think any of those stores would sell some nice wigs there or not?

I just ruined my wig because I am a failure LOL. So I can either buy another online but I got like 8 days left till I go to Fanime or just sob in my now blue poopy wig. Or I could check a store nearby and hope for something. ; u ;

I think all of them probably have some wigs. However, I've generally found that wigs available online are much cheeper. You can find a decent quality wig for $15 online if you look around enough and are really careful but the ones in most costume stores of any decent quality will run you more like $25 to $35 or more if it's specialty or particularly long. If you are looking for a specific color of makeup and a specific brand you can always call the store to find out if they cary it. Save yourself a trip if they don't. (also I recall the Diddams does have a really good selection of wigs but more limited selection of makeup then some of the  others)

And I have called/asked my questions and decided to go to Natasha's Attic for makeup! :D

I mean I have no experience with wigs and whatnot. I got my first wig but like I mentioned its kind of bad at the top. I mean the hair is great and soft, easy to brush. But you can see the lines where the wefts were put in. UGLY! Perhaps I could save this poop wig for when I have to wear a hat! XD
But I am somewhat traumatized to get another wig online....I want a long wig but I also want it in a very well the lightest purple color if possible but then there is prices and arrival. Blehhh. I do agree that more wigs are cheaper online than well not online.

[Bolli]

Ok does anyone recommend a good wig shop online or a good seller on amazon or ebay(idk)??? T n T

Preferably one that has faster shipping? I don't care if I have to pay extra.

[SquishyK]

Ok does anyone recommend a good wig shop online or a good seller on amazon or ebay(idk)??? T n T

Preferably one that has faster shipping? I don't care if I have to pay extra.

http://matchwigs.com
http://arda-wigs.com
https://www.epiccosplay.com
http://www.lightinthebox.com/c/anime-cosplay-wigs_2308 (can't remember if I bought from them or not, but quality looks pretty good)
http://www.dolluxe.com (and thanks for asking about wigs, because I was looking through these sites and just realized Dolluxe was having a sale on one of the wigs I was looking at :) wig acquired)
http://www.pandahat.com/cat/104052/cosplay-wig

Any one amazon seller tends to have a limited selection. More often you look for the type of wig you want (e.g. "blue short cosplay wig") pick the closest match from the search results and look at the seller feedback. Then pray.

As a last resort you could wait until Friday at Fanime. There is usually at least one or two shops in the dealers hall that are selling good quality wigs. Again though selection will be limited so don't wait as their selection will only get worse as they run out of stock on things. They also tend to be pricy, I'm not sure if they raise prices sometimes at cons but it wouldn't surprise me. But if you are willing to pay extra on shipping it might be just as economical to buy at con. I would NOT suggest trying to find a non-standard wig. If it will need lots of cutting and styling then trying to do that at con can be a real headache and lots of stress. I tend to be a "all cosplays finished before con" sort of person. I've tried working on cosplays at con with unfortunate result. I like to be able to get there and relax and enjoy myself not have to rush back to the hotel at 8 pm when there are still tons of things to see and then not even finish working on stuff until 2 am. not a pleasant way to spend the con. BUT if it's a really basic wig, then it's an option. What is the character anyway? was it mentioned?

[Bolli]

Well fortunately I got my wig and risked it getting from Amazon. It had a guarantee it would arrive the next day after I order it.

It was true! And I like the wig! It's a little tight but then again I don't have a nylon wig cap thing.

Thanks for the help! I'll save some of those for the future! XD

[Bolli]

So the store where I went I ended up getting wolfe cakes. And the dude gave me ben nye liquiset bottle. How would I use the liquiset? I would mainly want to apply it on my pits but I dunno. How do I use a bottle of liquiset? Would I even have to? <_>

EDIT: Btw it's not a spray bottle.

[SquishyK]

So the store where I went I ended up getting wolfe cakes. And the dude gave me ben nye liquiset bottle. How would I use the liquiset? I would mainly want to apply it on my pits but I dunno. How do I use a bottle of liquiset? Would I even have to? <_>

EDIT: Btw it's not a spray bottle.

You do not have to use it. It can be used instead of water and is supposed to make the makeup stay on better. I think the best method is to pour some into the lid of the wolfe cake and dip your brush or sponge into that before loading it with the colored makeup (dump any remainder before closing the cake, you don't want a soupy cake). But honestly you don't NEED it at all, especially if you are using a sealer after applying your makeup. I used it and I'm not sure I noticed any real difference (but I'm not 100% sure I had the technique quite right).